Months after receiving financing from the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has commenced the construction of the Isiolo–Mandera road.
The 749-kilometre road, whose construction fully commenced this week, is set to cost Ksh85 billion and is expected to connect four counties in the region, including Wajir, Garissa, Mandera, and Isiolo.
Footage showed ongoing road construction works, with engineers currently on site to oversee the project implementation process and ensure it adheres to the plans and specifications.
The construction of the highway is set to be carried out in four phases, with the first phase being the 200-kilometre route from Isiolo-Kulamawe-Modogashe, currently 40 per cent complete.
The Modogashe–Samatar–Wajir road project will be the second phase, while the third phase will begin from Wajir through Tarbaj–Kutulo and finally to Elwak. The fourth phase will be the Elwak–Rhamu–Mandera route.
The project aims to improve the movement of people and goods, and strengthen digital connectivity and access to social services for communities at designated locations along the targeted sections.
According to a KeNHA official, the highway is also expected to connect Kenya to other neighbouring countries to the north, including Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti.
“A couple of years before these roads came about, the north used to feel like they were not part of Kenya, but when we talk about international trunk roads, we must think of connecting our neighbours, that is Somalia and Ethiopia,” said a KeNHA officer.
According to KeNHA, the larger section of the road project, which is 60 metres wide, is on public land. However, the Authority maintained that encroachers would be displaced during the construction process.
Similarly, the engineers recently began the installation of the high-capacity optical fibre cable along the Isiolo–Mandera highway to boost connectivity in the region.
The deal for the construction of the highway and the optic cables was first signed in March 2021 between the government, through the Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC) and World Bank representatives.
Following the signing of the agreement, the World Bank went ahead to disburse Ksh81 billion for the road network, which is part of the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project (HoAGDP).
